Posts Tagged ‘victorian romance emma’

So, as promised here are my picks for this year’s SPJA awards. Though as usual, just a couple of notes about my picks. I’ve already deleted every category that I don’t feel I can give a good enough opinion on (such as all of the manga categories). If I even tried to make a pick there I’d just be taking a stab in the dark. So here we go… here are where my votes and predictions are going to lie this year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Wow, talk about a complete and utter turn around! I’ve posted my thoughts tonight on the absolutely phenominal conclusion of Emma: A Victorian Romance Season 2 from Right Stuf.

Sometimes you have to get through the slow and bad in order to get to the amazingly good.

The Story

Season two of Emma begins a month after the first season ends. After the death of her madam, Emma leaves London and William behind with no intention of ever returning. Finding employment with another madam in the countryside, she does her best to move on with her life. Back in London, William has become a depressed mess while Eleanor has no intention of being forgotten so easily and does her best to make her way back into his life and heart.

At first William is happy with this replacement and even goes forward with the engagement bringing the Jones family and Campbell family that much closer to a business arrangement that will make them both very happy. After a chance encounter brings Emma and William back together though, William realizes who he truly wants to be with.

Throughout the twelve episodes of season two, William will be forced balance what he truly wants with the expectations of polite society. The Campbell family is none too happy about this embarrassment and will do everything in their power to keep the two of them apart while simultaneously destroying the Jones family. The quest for true love begins here and both William and Emma will have to learn how to bridge the gap between them in order to find happiness being helped along the way by friends and family.

Good and the Bad

I’ll admit this much; I was very harsh with the first season to this series. Can you really blame me though? The first season of Emma was dry, dull and took forever to go nowhere. Imagine my shock and awe when I put in season two of this series and found myself absolutely captivated by one of the sweetest love stories told in recent anime history.

Aided in large part by the subtraction of a long and complicated set up, the second season of Emma is finally free to tell the story that it wanted to tell to begin with. The story of Emma and William is tragic from start to finish. Filled with complications, the starring couple in this series will undergo dramatic changes of heart and be put into situations that constantly test their faith and love for each other.

Far from perfect though, the story of this season would never get anywhere if it weren’t for the supporting characters. William and Emma is a very sweet couple from the beginning. The issue of the story however is that never once throughout the entire season does one ever believe that the two of them are not going to have a happy ending together. The idea of these two being kept apart forever is such a ridiculous notion that I would be shocked to hear anyone say that they even doubted what the overall ending would be. Naturally having this knowledge tucked away in the back of your head instantly takes away some of the fun of this series.

What brings it back are the addition of several background characters that always manage to keep things fresh and interesting. Returning from season one is the always cool and collected Indian prince Hakim (including his harem and elephants). In a series that is filled with stuffy and pompous society individuals, Hakim remains the bright spot of the series ironically because he is always cool and quiet. It would have been completely inappropriate for the staff to write Hakim as “wild”, but as the apathetic bystander Hakim is always there to be William’s guiding light and point out the obvious.

New characters to this season also play a big role in keeping the series fresh and moving in new directions. In particular, Eleanor’s older sister Monica and William’s mother, Aurelia, provide the series with new levels of humor and heart that the first season was never able to come close to reaching. In Monica the series gains a spunky and brash character who gives the series a slight jolt in all the right places.

With Aurelia, on the other hand, the series gains a new heart that once again the first season was never able to properly capture. Always touching, gentle and kind she is everything that you would want a mother character to be. She is everything that you would want a mother in general to be and if there was ever a time when this series made me feel misty, it was during her scenes with William and Emma.

Beyond the story and characters though, the staff behind this series just flatly puts together a very solid presentation that pays attention to the finer details with its animation and storytelling. A very large complaint that many people had with the first season is that it was much too slow in its pacing. Improving on that by leaps and bounds, the second season is always working towards something new. Every scene has a purpose and every character plays a role in the development in the relationship of William and Emma. From her new madam to William’s family, there are very few examples of wasted time or dialogue.

Replacing Studio Pierrot, the animation in this season is done by Asia-Do (‘Here Is Greenwood’, ‘End of Evangelion’ and the in between animation for the upcoming ‘Evangelion 1.0’). From start to finish, the production values in this season are beautiful to watch. Always using a soft palette of colors, the animation never comes across too bright nor does the CG animation ever make the characters or backgrounds feel out of place. Just like the first season, the world that the characters inhabit always feels real.

A big part of this has to do with the attention to detail that the studio pays attention to. The first instance that fans may notice of this is early in the season when William is shown reading a newspaper. A close up of the paper is shown over William’s shoulder and observant audience members will see that the entire newspaper is written in English. It would have been far easier for Asia-Do to simply write gibberish or squiggly lines instead but the fact that they took the time to write out entire pages in English for such a short scene impressed me greatly.

Music

Returning from season one, Ryo Kunihiko is back with another brilliantly composed soundtrack. If there was one place where season one excelled it was in the beautiful period musical pieces and to replace Kunihiko after the wonderful job done there would have been criminal. Having said that, the theme music remains largely the same for this season. Kunihiko does manage to give it a certain folk twist which gives it new life though I’d hardly call it ‘Celtic’ like it is titled. ‘Rondo of Lily Bell’, on the other hand, is a nice theme. It has an up tempo but is still very melancholy in its tune. I only wish it sounded less electronic and more natural though.

From there, the background music for the series is largely centered on violin and harp themes. If you fancy yourself a fan of folk, Celtic or classical music than this is a soundtrack that you will agree is a must own for your collection.

Dub vs. Sub

Yumi Touma and Sanae Kobayashi as Emma and Eleanor respectively deserve mountains of credit for one reason; they cry… a lot. Like every other episode either one or both of these seiyuu are crying about something or other. Almost to the point of tedium, we get it… you’re sad. I bring this up not to poke fun at the talent though but specifically to mention how hard it is to constantly have to cry even softly. But to have to bawl on an almost constant basis had to be taxing on their bodies.

In terms of actual performances though, the standouts of the cast are easily Hiroki Touchi as Hans and Yuji Ueda as Hakim. While essentially playing the same role in different ways (i.e. they are both the straight men who point out the obvious to Emma and William respectively), it’s easy to imagine how empty this series would have felt without their presence and the simple way that they delivered their dialogue always comes across very strongly. Plus hearing Ueda perform Shakespeare in Japanese is certainly a very unique experience.

Extras

For the most part, the extras within this set are very sparse. All four discs contain the names of those who pre-ordered the set through Right Stuf and there are also clean animations and original Japanese DVD adverts. The bright spot in the extras however is the special ‘episode 0 – Intermission’ which was shown on Japanese television to act as a bridge between the two seasons.

Ironically more entertaining than the entire first season, this intermission episode does a wonderful job of getting audience members caught up with all of the important bits of the first season. What is odd about this extra however is that not only is it listed in the bonus menu of disc 1 (where most fans, including myself, would go to look for it) but if you hit ‘play all’ on disc 1 the first episode that begins is this one. However, if you go into the episode menu of disc 1, the intermission episode is nowhere to be found.

It felt odd to me that the episode would be included in the extras instead of the episode menu when the disc is programmed as such. It is a very small complaint however and one that most audience members, I believe, will likely easily look past.

Overall

Touching on many levels, the second season of Emma manages to do everything that the first season couldn’t plus much more. It’s rare that you come across a series that gets off to such a poor start before managing to tell such a beautiful second half but this one certainly fits that mold. If you are ever looking for a moving, touching and sometimes heartbreaking period romance than you needn’t look any further; this is romantic gold.

Final Grade: A-

RIGHT STUF’S NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT Unveils Refreshed Site for
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 - emma.rightstuf.com
New trailers & downloads, plus NEW contest to win reproduction of Kaoru Mori’s artwork.

GRIMES, IA, November 18, 2008 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and Nozomi Entertainment are pleased to announce the re-launch of emma.rightstuf.com (http://emma.rightstuf.com), in honor of the release of the EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection on November 11, 2008.

At emma.rightstuf.com, visitors can:

·       Watch trailers for both seasons of the series and a new trailer for Season 2;

·       Enter a contest, held in conjunction with CMX Manga, for a chance to win an exclusive high-quality replica of EMMA artwork, illustrated by Kaoru Mori, or one of five prize packs featuring the first volume of the EMMA manga and a copy of SHIRLEY;

·       Read about the anime series, and check out new character profiles and screenshots;

·       Download new EMMA avatars and desktop wallpapers;

·       Read “Welcome to Emma’s World,” an introduction to the series and the career of manga-ka Kaoru Mori, by CMX Editor Jim Chadwick;  and

·       Read a Q & A with EMMA creator Kaoru Mori.

The EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection is now available. It includes the 12 episodes of the series’ “Second Act,” a recap/preview that aired prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan (“Episode 0: Intermission”), and a 48-page “Victorian Gazette” that features artwork and illustrations from the series, plus an interview with EMMA creator Kaoru Mori. The Emma: A Victorian Romance – Season 1 DVD Collection was released on June 24, 2008 and is also now available.

****

A “masterpiece that shows the true potential of anime as an international art form”
- Anime News Network

“…completely captivates and entrances.” “Highly recommended.” – AnimeOnDVD.com

“…if you’re looking for a unique anime with some real heart then definitely give this one a shot.”  “Highly recommended.” – DVD Talk’s Anime Talk

“…there’s really no way you can go wrong with this release.” - Otaku USA

“I am in love.” - Anime News Network’s Shelf Life

****

A historical drama set in late 19th-century London, the series chronicles the love story – and the complications that result – when Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, and William, an earnest suitor and member of the “gentry” class, fall for each other.

Spanning a total of 24 episodes between the two seasons, this anime adaptation of Kaoru Mori’s manga features direction by Tsuneo Kobayashi (The Twelve Kingdoms, Glass Mask OAV, Super GALS!) and scripting by Mamiko Ikeda (Sgt. Frog, Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu). The original manga was honored with an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival and is available to North American readers via DC Comics’ CMX Manga imprint.

Visit emma.rightstuf.com for more information about Emma: A Victorian Romance – including an interview with series creator, Kaoru Mori, and extensive previews of the original Emma manga.

About EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2

In the faraway village of Haworth, a new chapter in Emma’s life has begun. Now employed by the wealthy Mölders family, Emma has resolved to put the past behind her. She’ll have to adjust to a new house, a charming (but eccentric) new mistress, and a host of fellow servants, some with buried pasts of their own. Meanwhile, back in London, William is doing his best to uphold his father’s wishes as the Jones family heir, but try as he might, he can’t forget Emma. Yet, whenever he feels at his worst, Eleanor is always there to comfort him with a warm, shy smile. Could the answer to his broken heart be right before his eyes? Contains the complete 12-episode second season (a.k.a. “Second Act”), plus “Episode 0: Intermission,” a recap/preview released prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan.

EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection
Pre-Book: 9/30/2008
Street Date: 11/11/2008
Runtime: Approximately 325 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo, Color
Genre: Romance / Historical
Suggested Rating: 7+

Format: DVD (2.0 Japanese, English Subtitles, English On-Screen Translations)
Catalog #: RSDVD0806
ISBN: 1-57032-799-8
UPC: 7-42617-0806-2-3
SRP: $49.99

Discs: 4
Case Qty: Approx. 9

DVD Features:
Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: A 48-page “Victorian Gazette” that features artwork and illustrations from the series, plus an interview with EMMA’s creator, Kaoru Mori.

* Cover Art: http://outgoing.rightstuf.com/sleeves/rsdvd0806.jpg
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE 2 © Kaoru Mori • ENTERBRAIN, INC./Emma 2 Production Committee.
* To view this image, cut and paste the URL into your Web browser.

** Product specifications and content may be subject to change.

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.
Currently celebrating its 21st year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation (“anime”) industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us and ARIA, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

RIGHT STUF’S NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT Announces
New Street Date of November 11, 2008 for
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection

GRIMES, IA, October 21, 2008 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and Nozomi Entertainment have rescheduled the release date of the EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection to November 11, 2008.

The two-week delay was caused by shipping delays, said Right Stuf President and C.E.O. Shawne Kleckner. He continued, “We know Emma fans have been eagerly awaiting its conclusion since the release of the Season 1 DVD Collection back in June. We thank you for your continued support and patience. And, most importantly, we look forward to delivering the rest of this exceptional series to you.”

The Season 2 DVD Collection includes the 12 episodes of the series’ “Second Act,” plus “Episode 0: Intermission,” a recap/preview that aired prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan, and a 48-page “Victorian Gazette” that features artwork and illustrations from the series, plus an interview with EMMA creator Kaoru Mori.

****

A “masterpiece that shows the true potential of anime as an international art form”
- Anime News Network

“…completely captivates and entrances.” “Highly recommended.” – AnimeOnDVD.com

“…if you’re looking for a unique anime with some real heart then definitely give this one a shot.”  “Highly recommended.” – DVD Talk’s Anime Talk

“…there’s really no way you can go wrong with this release.” - Otaku USA

“I am in love.” - Anime News Network’s Shelf Life

****

A historical drama set in late 19th-century London, the series chronicles the love story – and the complications that result – when Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, and William, an earnest suitor and member of the “gentry” class, fall for each other.

Spanning a total of 24 episodes between the two seasons, this anime adaptation of Kaoru Mori’s manga features direction by Tsuneo Kobayashi (The Twelve Kingdoms, Glass Mask OAV, Super GALS!) and scripting by Mamiko Ikeda (Sgt. Frog, Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu). The original manga was honored with an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival and is available to North American readers via DC Comics’ CMX Manga imprint.

The Emma: A Victorian Romance – Season 1 DVD Collection was released on June 24, 2008 and is now available.

Visit emma.rightstuf.com for more information about Emma: A Victorian Romance – including an interview with series creator, Kaoru Mori, and extensive previews of the original Emma manga.

About EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2

In the faraway village of Haworth, a new chapter in Emma’s life has begun. Now employed by the wealthy Mölders family, Emma has resolved to put the past behind her. She’ll have to adjust to a new house, a charming (but eccentric) new mistress, and a host of fellow servants, some with buried pasts of their own. Meanwhile, back in London, William is doing his best to uphold his father’s wishes as the Jones family heir, but try as he might, he can’t forget Emma. Yet, whenever he feels at his worst, Eleanor is always there to comfort him with a warm, shy smile. Could the answer to his broken heart be right before his eyes? Contains the complete 12-episode second season (a.k.a. “Second Act”), plus “Episode 0: Intermission,” a recap/preview released prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan.

EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 2 DVD Collection
Pre-Book: 9/30/2008
Street Date: 10/28/2008         NEW Street Date: 11/11/2008
Runtime: Approximately 325 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo, Color
Genre: Romance / Historical
Suggested Rating: 7+

Format: DVD (2.0 Japanese, English Subtitles, English On-Screen Translations)
Catalog #: RSDVD0806
ISBN: 1-57032-799-8
UPC: 7-42617-0806-2-3
SRP: $49.99

Discs: 4
Case Qty: Approx. 9

DVD Features:
Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: A 48-page “Victorian Gazette” that features artwork and illustrations from the series, plus an interview with EMMA’s creator, Kaoru Mori.

* Cover Art: http://outgoing.rightstuf.com/sleeves/rsdvd0806.jpg
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE 2 © Kaoru Mori • ENTERBRAIN, INC./Emma 2 Production Committee.
* To view this image, cut and paste the URL into your Web browser.

** Product specifications and content may be subject to change.

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.
Currently celebrating its 21st year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation (“anime”) industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

>From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us and ARIA, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

Filling in some more gaps in the review list today with a jump back to Zegapain Vol. 2 from Bandai.

Right Stuf delivers the goods with one of the most highly anticipated series of the year.

The Story

In this period romantic drama, the heroine is a girl named Emma who works as a maid for retired governess Kelly Stowart in Victorian London. After meeting a young gentry named William Jones however, the two become enamored with each other and fall in love. Victorian England is not that simple however and the two must find a way to overcome their differences, most notably their difference in social classes.

Along the way William and Emma’s relationship will face further challenges though including William’s friend and member of the royal family of India, Hakim, rejection from his siblings and his father trying to arrange a marriage for William.

Good and the Bad

At first glance or mention, anime fans may have a hard time wrapping their minds around the concept. An anime series placed within Victorian era London isn’t exactly a common plot hook. Within ninety seconds, that unease will be wiped away. The first time the audience sees the opening animation they will be instantly transported to the proper period. The settings are absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail that the staff paid is actually tangible.

The staff behind this series really stepped up and created a beautiful world to put these characters into. There is absolutely nothing flashy about this series from start to finish. None of the animation will hit you with bright colors or loud sound effects. Even the color palette used by the animation staff throughout the series mostly stays within a narrow field of browns. While the colors brighten accordingly when the setting remains around the huge Jones estate, most of the other settings will maintain their very dull palette creating a very real contrast for the audience to see.

Getting into the actual story and dialogue of the series, the writing behind this series is very interesting in its approach. The understated approach that this series takes with its animation remains consistent with its story and dialogue between characters.

Audience members who come into this series expecting to have their entertainment just handed to them are going to walk away disappointed. While the story is easy to follow, none of the plot points that the series follows are over the top in their dramatics. As the series follows the young couple, the two of them will gradually realize their feelings for each other. But at no point will this series deliver a big reveal scene with heartfelt, teary eyed confessions. And that’s how the series will deliver its story in every episode. While all of the plot points will be highlighted in a way that the audience will pick up on them easily, the drama will always remain simple and quietly placed in front of the audience.

As the series plays out, audience members may not even be aware of the growing affection that they are acquiring for these characters. But then something major will happen and there they will be surprised to find tears coming down their cheeks as they react. Even I was surprised to see how attached I had grown to certain characters as they made their way through the series.

Drama is not the only thing that this series is good at delivering however. The comedy in this series also manages to pull off quite a few memorable moments. Much of the series comedy comes from Hakim in a very strong supporting role. Being from India, the writers took every liberty they could with making Hakim do insane things such as drive a car indoors or ride an elephant through downtown London simply as novelty. The character really develops well though eventually delivering pivotal pieces of dialogue.

Audiences should be warned however that sarcasm was not the favorite form of humor of the Victorian nobility. No one in this series knows how to be sarcastic in the least and so all of the humor from this series is much more direct. While there are a few physical jokes and quite a few sight gags, the verbal humor in this series is much more subtle. While there are some very obvious examples such as William’s younger sister going off about the classes, there are plenty of subtle examples as well mostly dealing with William and some of his habits.

Music

All of the music in this series is period instrumental with no vocal tracks at all. The music in the series is very well composed however. The opening theme is a very lively piece that features mostly strings in a beautiful melody. As with just about every other aspect of this series, the music is yet another feature that the series decides to down play.

While music will play a beautiful role in many of the more important scenes, Emma also lets the characters move the story themselves. There are sometimes entire scenes where the sounds will be the characters themselves with no music to accompany them. With so many series using their soundtracks as a crutch, this is a unique touch.

Dub vs. Sub

One part of this series presentation really came across as troublesome though. While Right Stuf is normally very good about subtitles, I was really surprised to see mistakes occasionally while I watched this set. There are more than a few examples scattered throughout the set unfortunately. Two that stuck out most clearly to me were near the end of episode seven when the sentence ‘He must very be tired’ appears on the screen or in episode twelve with ‘She here came looking for work.’

Any other mistakes that I noticed in the subtitles were along those lines. The mistake isn’t so large that it is going to take away from anyone’s enjoyment of the series but when your eyes do come across them it will always take a moment for you to readjust and move on.

The cast for this series all performed very well. With the characters designed so well, the cast does an excellent job of keeping their performances grounded. None of the lines ever feel forced and the emotion that Yumi Touma as Emma and Tokuyoshi Kawashima as William deliver are very moving.

Extras

Each volume includes extras such as clean animations, character biographies and original Japanese promotional videos. Also included, as promised, are the names of the first thousand people who pre-ordered the set from Right Stuf.

The character biographies were the extra caught my attention the most as I progressed through the series. While each of the profiles are quite short at only a couple of paragraphs each. Each profile managed to provide just an extra glimpse into the characters that audience members might not have caught the first time around.

Overall

While I’m not quite sure that it lived up to the hype that followed it, it certainly earned it. The story presented in this series is strong in how different it is. It’s a slow moving, quiet, character drive period drama. Once you move past the differences and look at the series for what it is, you’re still left with something above average.

The characters and story are strong in their own ways. While the pacing and humor of the series will try the patience of everyone at some point, the romance and characters will keep you coming back. I can understand someone loving this series but I can also someone saying that they hated it. There is a middle ground though and even though I never found myself particularly attached to this series I was sad to see the first season end. I may not be counting down the days until I see the second season but I am at least left with wanting more.

Final Grade: B+

RIGHT STUF’S NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT Announces
Feb. 18 Deadline to Receive Name in DVD Credits for the
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 1 DVD Collection
Box set to include “Victorian Gazette” & available June 24, 2008

GRIMES, IA, February 13, 2008 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and Nozomi Entertainment are pleased to make two announcements about the EMMA: A Victorian Romance – Season 1 DVD Collection, which is scheduled for release on June 24, 2008:

The Season 1 DVD Collection – with the anime’s entire 12-episode first season – will include a 96-page “Victorian Gazette,” featuring background information and illustrations that explore the Victorian era depicted in the series, from period fashions and travel in England to architecture and day-to-day life. This book also includes a full glossary, with in-depth, historical explanations, plus comments and comics by Kaoru Mori, the creator of the EMMA manga. This exclusive extra is a compilation of the booklets that were previously only available with the Japanese limited-edition DVD releases of EMMA.
The first 1,000 anime fans to pre-order the Season 1 DVD Collection from RightStuf.com before 11:59 p.m. CST on Monday, February 18, 2008 will be recognized by name in a “special thanks” section of the DVD credits for the series’ first box set.

PLEASE NOTE:

(a) Pre-orders will continue to be accepted for the EMMA – Season 1 DVD Collection. However, fans pre-ordering after February 18, 2008 will NOT be eligible to have their names in the DVD credits for the first box set.

(b) Fans who have pre-ordered the EMMA: A Victorian Romance – Season 1 DVD Collection and are eligible to have their names appear in the DVD credits for the first box set will receive a confirmation e-mail – with name customization instructions – in the days following the February 18 deadline.

(c) The first 1,000 pre-orders for the Season 2 DVD Collection – street date TBA and also currently available for pre-order at RightStuf.com – still have the opportunity to be recognized in the DVD credits for the second box set.

****

A “masterpiece that shows the true potential of anime as an international art form”
- Anime News Network.

A historical drama set in late 19th-century London, the series chronicles the love story – and the complications that result – when Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, and William, an earnest suitor and member of the “gentry” class, fall for each other.

Spanning a total of 24 episodes between the two seasons, this anime adaptation of Kaoru Mori’s manga features direction by Tsuneo Kobayashi (The Twelve Kingdoms, Glass Mask OAV, Super GALS!) and scripting by Mamiko Ikeda (Sgt. Frog, Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu). The original manga was honored with an Excellence Prize at the 2005 Japan Media Arts Festival and is available to North American readers via DC Comics’ CMX Manga imprint.

As previously announced, EMMA will be released as two “season” box sets with Japanese audio and English-language subtitles:

 

The initial box set release, scheduled for June 24, 2008, will contain the 12-episode first season in its entirety; and
The second box set (TBA) will include the 12 episodes of the series’ “Second Act,” plus “Episode 0: Intermission,” a recap/preview that aired prior to the start of the Season 2 telecast in Japan.

Visit emma.rightstuf.com, for more information about EMMA: A Victorian Romance and to pre-order both box sets.

About EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 1

In 19th-century London, class lines are sharply drawn, and the social standing to which one is born dictates the path his or her life will likely follow. But when Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, and William, an earnest member of the gentry, fall for each other… Can love truly conquer all? Contains the complete 12-episode first season.

EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE – Season 1 DVD Collection
Pre-Book: 5/27/2008
Street Date: 6/24/2008
Runtime: Approximately 300 minutes, Dolby Digital Stereo, Anamorphic Widescreen, Color
Genre: Romance / Historical
Suggested Rating: 7+

Format: DVD (2.0 Japanese, English Subtitles, English On-Screen Translations)
Catalog #: RSDVD0805
ISBN: 1-57032-798-X
UPC: 7-42617-0805-2-4
SRP: $49.99

DVD Features:
Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: A 96-page “Victorian Gazette,” featuring background information and illustrations that explore the Victorian era depicted in the series, from period fashions and travel in England to architecture and day-to-day life. This book also includes a full glossary, with in-depth, historical explanations, plus comments and comics by Kaoru Mori, the creator of the EMMA manga. This exclusive extra is a compilation of the booklets that were previously only available with the Japanese limited-edition DVD releases of EMMA.

* Cover Art: Not yet available.
EMMA: A VICTORIAN ROMANCE © Kaoru Mori • ENTERBRAIN, INC./Emma Production Committee
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** Product specifications and content may be subject to change.

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Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

>From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart and The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

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